Work of the Special Commission on the Impacts of Screens and Social Networks on the Health and Development of Young People (CSESJ) continues in Quebec with members of the committee hearing from from around 40 experts between now and September 26.
The Early Childhood Observatory (Observatoire des tout-petits) unveiled its new report Les écrans et les tout-petits (screens and young children), which reported more than half of five-year-old children spending an hour or more per day in front of a screen.
The report said a child’s brain is developing at top speed where too much time in front of a screen can deprive young children active contribution to their overall development.
According to a release, studies show that too much screen time can even result in functional and structural changes in certain areas of the brain.
The 40 experts speaking in Quebec range in fields of education, health and social services, public security, law, and digital technology. Supervision measures at school and on the web are among other topics discussed as well as access to social networks, like video games and cyberbullying.
According to a recent Léger survey commissioned by the Observatory, three in four Quebecers (76%) are concerned about young children’s exposure to screens.
The release also says that English-speaking families in Quebec experience more social, economic and personal challenges than French-speaking parents. Among English-speaking families it is more difficult for them to access programs and services that will help with the matter.
Quebec Premier François Legault proposed the commission last May, while under pressure from younger CAQ members who wanted to set the minimum age at 16 to access social networks and limit screen time at school. According to U.S. Chief Medical Officer Vivek Murthy, social media is “driving a national crisis in youth mental health.”
The special commission must submit its report by May 30, 2025.